Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-10-31
ELlHU B. WASHBURNE.
An Able Discourse on the Great
Statesman.
Rev. u. w. sues Theme at the First
W. r.. Church Last Evening Memo
rial sermon.


sermon on the subject The Death of
Elihu B. Washburne, One of the Greatest
Of Americas Great Statesmen" He
took his text from Romans. 1871:
Render therefore, to all their dues hon
or to whom honor.
This, sad the pastor. is one of the
most lovely of the duties of our religion
Our Christian religion recognizes true
worth, Wherever found-in the church or
in the state. 1t is just as much our duty.
the speaker held. to pay tribute of re
spect TO those who hive earned il, rs to
meet any other obligation. The tendency
of American people, however, was to dis
honor the motives of those who have de
voted themselves to public life as pro-
fession. 1t is so easy for us to see nOth-
ing good in politicians who are opposed
to us politically. The tendency IS to
speak disparagingly, unkindly, rebellious
ly of those in power We are beginning
TO reap the bitter fruitage of this kind of
sowing here in America 1t invites com
munists and anarchists, and encourages
them in their hateful principals
The speaker then turned to the subject
of his discourse, Elihu B. Washhurne,
whose noble deeds and great usefulness,
he said had almost been forgotten He
was the greatest of many great men that
America has produced, and it would be
ungratcful and unpatriotic To let so great
man pass away without Il recognition
the last of long list of renowned he
roes who most skillfuliy directed the al
fairs OF this wonderful American republic
through the stormiest sea it has ever
passed. As with most of the great men
in the history of our republic. Mr. Wash
burne was self made man. Mr.. Cue
then traced the life history of the great
statesman, holding TINT it WAS almost
invariably the case that II great man had
great woman for his mother. This was
instanced IN Garfield, and Grant and
Washburne. Blood will tell. He was
blessed with noble mother. Born at
LivermOre Oxford county, Maine, Sept.
81, 1916, he died in Chicago Oct. 90,
1887. He was Il lawyer, graduating at
Cambridge. Mass in class with such
men rs James Russell Lowell W. Nj.
| Eyarts. etc. Cane west in 1910. settl-
ing at GalrHa, and soon entered the
political field. and his speeches did much
to establish both his reputation and prac-
ticr He took great interest in all the
early improvements of the state,
| and was elected to congress in
I 1852, and served successfully for
| many years, becoming notable in our ma
| tional Legislature, serving so long in con
gress that he became known as the "fa>
| Their Of tine house" Three times he swore
| in Schul ColfaX Ms speaker, and SINH
| iariy ufficiated for James g. Blaine His
shrewdness of detection and persistent
| opposition to all attacks upon public
! money, earned for him the name of the
/ 'waich do ut the treasury" In 1880 he
| received forty, four votes in the Chicago
| convention as nominee for president of
the United States.
| He was always stannch admirer of
! Gen. Grant and was instrumental in
! framing the bill which created for that
| great general the rank of lieutenant gems
eral, and finally general of the armies of
the United States. Upon Grants election
in 1868, Mr. Washburne was called to
the first place in the enthusiastically of
state--but was upon the advice of his
physician compelled to resign, and he ac-
cepted the post of minister to France
He renamed there during nine years of
the most stormy period of Frances his
tory. Upon his return to this country he
made his home in Chicago.
MI Cue then drew the lessons to be
learned from the life of such man. One
was lesson to the young. and the profit
had by imitation of his industry
and honesty. Like Lincoln, he was al.
ways known as an honest man. Another
strong trait of Mr.. Washburne's charac-
ter was his loyalty to his flag, and his
country, as demonstrated by the stand he
took all through the fiery ordeal of tht
terrible civil war.
If you want a country where the PEG
pie are free in their conscience. free tt
speak, free to vote, free to worship God
according to the dictates of their owl
conscience, then be true to the stars and
stripes--the flag of America. IF
could have my way, said Mr.. Cue, 50
wouIds have that flag float from every
church sieeple in the land, and drapt
every pulpit with its colors."
Another lesson 10 DE learned lGDH
Mr. Washburne's life was that mai
could have a political principle an
be true politician without SANDER
ing, and in other ways abusing thos
who differ with him. While Mr. Wash
burne was firm and Outspoken il
his political views, he treated his oppO
nents 80 as to command their respect
Another lesson to be learned from MI
Washburne's career was that man, how
ever burdened with care could lead
Christian life, who was believer in
Christian religion, and himself prayin
man.
As the years roll on, Mr.. Cue said til
people were going to demand higher an
higher standards of morality in film
places of public trust. Thegrandest an
truest men we have ever had are men VIII
= are not ashamed of their Christianity
The Christian religion is the rock o
which this nation rests and her safe
guard for time to come.
The Hershey sunk.
The rafter. B. Hershey, while goir
over the rapids at $50 Saturdi